Arm and leg joint construction for toy figures



1963 H. R. BEEBE 3,099,895

ARM AND LEG JOINT CONSTRUCTION FOR TOY FIGURES Filed Dec. 7,1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 BY WFW ATTORNEYS g- 6, 1963 H. R. BEEBE 3,099,895

ARM AND LEG JOINT CONSTRUCTION FOR TOY FIGURES Filed Dec. 7, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 """IIIIIIIIIIII INVENTOR. HERBERT 1?. BE'EBE BY wflf AYT'GP/VEYS 3,9?9395 ARM AND JQINT CQNMRUQTEGN FER TUY FlG RES Herbert R. Beebe, Richmond Hill, N.Y., assignor to American Doll 2%: Toy (Zora, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Dec. 7, 1961, Ser. No. 157,674 3 Claims. (Cl. 46161) This invention relates to toy figures and the like and has particular reference to a joint construction for articulatively connecting the arms and legs respectively with the body thereof.

In stuffed toy figures such as dolls the walls of the body, arms, and legs are usually of thin material which is maintained in expanded relation by means of the stufiing material contained therein. The thin wall-s render .it difficult to attach the arms and legs to the body to provide a firm joint construction for articulatively connecting the arms and legs with the body. In order to overcome the objections and disadvantages in the usual joint construetions connecting the arms and legs with the body of stufled toy figures and the like, the present invention provides a joint construction in which the arms and the legs are respectively interconnected within the body with the upper ends of the arms and legs arranged in sockets in the body for articulation with reference thereto.

Another object of the invention is to provide a joint construction for articulatively connecting the arms and legs respectively with the body of a toy figure and the like which consists of parts carried by the arms and legs respectively which interfit within the body for conveniently and expeditiously connecting the arms together and the legs together.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a thin walled toy figure and the like with arms and legs having telescopically associated tubular portion extending into the body of the doll and which interengage within the toy body to retain the arms and legs in connected relation for turning movement with reference thereto.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a joint construction of said character in which one of the tubular parts is formed with contractible and expansible fingers adapted to expand to normal relation when in telescopic relation with the other part for connecting the arms and legs together respectively within the toy body.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, reference is now made to the following specification and accompan ing drawings in which the preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a view in elevation of a doll in which the arms and legs are connected together within the body thereof in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view in elevation showing the arms and legs and the body in separated juxtaposition and provided with the means for connecting the same therewith.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the upper portion of the body and arms shown in connected relation.

FIG. 4 is a similar view showing the lower portion of the body and the legs disposed in connected relation.

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view taken approximately on line 55 of FIG. 3.

Referring to the drawings, the invention is illustrated in its application to a joint construction for articulative- 1y connecting the arms and legs of a toy figure such as a doll with the body thereof. As illustrated, the doll includes a head 10, arms 1]., legs 12 and a body 13. The

ire rates int ice arms and legs and body have thin outer Walls and are stuffed with compressible and expausible material so that the same normally retains their inherent formation but permit of flexing and compression thereof to render the doll more realistic.

The body 13 includes a thin outer Wall 14 having inwardly extending wall portions 15 and 16 providing sockets 17 and 18 for the arms and legs respectively. The inwardly extending wall portions 15 have aligned central apertures 19 and the inwardly extending wall portions 16 have aligned central apertures 29.

Each of the arms 11 include a thin outer wall 22' which is provided with a substantially herni-spherical shaped upper end 23 corresponding substantially in formation to the inwardly extending wall portions 15 of the body forming the sockets 17 and in which the ends23 of the arms snugly and slidably fit. The ends 23 .of the arms are formed with central apertures 24 of substantially the same size as the central apertures 19 of the inwardly extending wall protions 15 of the body.

Similarly, each of the legs 12 include a thin outer wall 25 which is formed with a substantially hemi-spherical shaped upperend27 corresponding substantially in formation to the inwardly extending wall portion 16 of the body forming the sockets 18 and in which the ends 27 of the legs snugly and slidably fit. The ends 27 of .the legs are formed with central apertures 28 of substantially the same size as the central apertures 20 of the inwardly extending wall portions 16 of the body.

In accordance with the present invention, interfitting tubular members 3i and 31 are provided for connecting the arms together in associated relation with the body for articulation of the arms and similar interfitting tubular members 30 and 31 are also provided for connecting the legs together in association with the body for relative movement of the legs therewith. The tubular members 30 and 31 consist of shell portions 32 and 33- of arcuate shaped formation at the outer ends of tubular shanks 34- and 35 respectively which shell portion fitting'ly engage against the inner arcuate faces of the ends 23 and $7 of the arms and legs respectively with the tubular shanks 34 and 35 protruding through the central openings 24- and 28 thereof.

The tubular members are formed of hard inflexible material, the tubular shanks 34 and 35 thereof being of circular formation in cross-section and the shank 34 being slightly larger than the shank 35 for telescopically receiving the shank 35. The shank '35 is formed with a plurality of oircumferentially spaced fingers 36 having peripheral enlargements 3-7 forming shoulders at the free ends thereof respectively. The fingers 36 are resilient and flex inwardly with the insertion of the shank 35 within the tubular shank 34. The said fingers return to normal formation when the enlargements 37 thereof pass through the shanks 34 whereby the enlargements engage against the shell portions 32 to thereby retain the tubular members in connected relation for the arms and legs as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 of the drawings.

The joint construction is primarily adapted for use in connection with toy figures such as dolls and the like in which the body and the arms and legs are stu'fied with any desired resilient cellular material such as foam rubber 39. This material maintains the said pants in nor- D mally distended or expanded relation and permits of the flexing and compression thereof and the enlargement of the apertures in the ends 23 and '27 of the arms and legs for inserting therein the shell portions 32 and 33 of the tubular members. Before this is done, the filling material is inserted in the arms and legs in molten condition which expands to fill the voids therein. The arms and legs are filled to the ends 23 and 27 and tubular forms (not shown) are inserted in the body which extend transversely between the inwardly wall portions and 16 so as to form a cylindrical cavity in alignment with the apertures 19 and 20 thereof respectively. The tubular members 30 and 31 are disposed in connected relation with the arms and legs by inserting the shell portions 32 and 33 into the arms and legs through the apertures 24 and 28 respectively. The shanks are then inserted into the doll body through the apertures 19 and 20 in telescopic relation with the shank 35 arranged within the shank 34 and the enlargements thereof disposed against the inner face of the shell portions 32 so as to prevent separation of the tubular members. When thus secured together the ends 23 and 27 of the arms and legs snugly and slidably fit the sockets 17 and 18 with the arms and legs connected with the body'for relative articulation or turning movement in the sockets.

The wall 14 of the body 13 and the walls 22 and 26 of the arms and legs are of flexible resilient material such as thermoplastic and the like which permit of the distortion thereof for receiving the interfitting parts connecting the arms and legs with the body. The head 10' may be of hard or thermoplastic material and the same is connected with the body 13 in any desired manner. For this purpose, thebody is formed with a recess 41 in the upper end thereof for receiving the neck portion of the head.

While the preferred form of the invention is shown and described herein, it is to be understood that the same is not so limited but shall cover and include any and all modifications of the invention which fall within the purview thereof.

What is claimed is:

I 1. In a toy figure, a body of resilient material having upper and lower oppositely disposed inwardly directed wall portions of semi-spherical shaped formation providing two arm and two leg sockets, said upper and lower inwardly directed wall portions having aligned apertures therein, arm and leg members of resilient material having upper ends of semi-spherical shaped formation in section fittingly engaging said arm and leg sockets respectively and having apertures disposed in registry with the apertures in said upper and lower inwardly directed wall portions of the body respectively, interfitting first and second hollow parts connecting said arm members together and interfitting first and second hollow parts connecting said leg members together, each of said first hollow parts having a shell portion of semi-spherical shaped formation and a tubular shank connected with said shell portion and provided with circumferentially spaced fingers with outwardly extending enlargements at the ends of said fingers, each of said second hollow parts having a shell portion of semi-spherical shaped formation and a-tubular shank connected with said shell portion and which tubular shank is relatively larger in cross sectional formation than the tubular shank of the first hollow part, said hollow parts connecting the arms together having the semi-spherical shell portions thereof disposed within the semi-spherical upper ends of the arm members respectively with the tubular shanks thereof disposed one within the other within the body and with the enlargements at the ends of the fingers engaging against the end of the outer tubular shank for retaining said parts in connected relation and securing the semi-spherical ends of the semi-spherical arm members in said arm sockets of the body for articul'a tion with referencethereto, and said parts connecting said leg members together having the semi-spherical shell portions thereof disposed within the semi-spherical upper ends of the leg members respectively with the tubular shanks thereof disposed one within the other and with the enlargements at the ends of the fingers engaging against the end of the surrounding tubular shanks for retaining said parts in connected relation and securing the semi-spherical ends of the semi-spherical leg members 4; in said leg sockets of the body for articulation with reference thereto.

2. In a toy figure, a body of resilient material having oppositely disposed inwardly directed wall portions of semi-spherical shaped formation providing arm sockets, said inwardly directed wall portions having aligned apertures therein, arm members of resilient material having upper ends of semi-spherical shaped formation in'section fittingly engaging said arm sockets respectively and having apertures disposed in registry with the apertures in said inwardly directed wall portions of the body, interfitting first and second hollow parts connecting said arm members together, said first hollow part having a shell portion of semi-spherical shaped formation and a tubular shank connected with said shell portion and provided with circumferentially spaced fingers with outwardly extending enlargements at the ends of said fingers, said second hollow part having a shell portion of semi-spherical shaped formation and a tubular shank connected with said shell portion and which tubular shank is relatively larger in cross sectional formation than the tubular shank of said first hollow part, said hollow parts having the semispherical shell portions thereof disposed within the semi spherical upper ends of the arm members respectively with the tubular shanks thereof protruding through said apertures in the arm members and into the body through said apertures therein to dispose said tubularshanks one Within the other Within the body and with the enlargements at the ends-of the fingers engaged against the end of the surrounding [tubular shank for retaining said parts in connected relation and securing the semi-spherical ends of the arm members in said semi-spherical arm sockets of the body for articulation with reference thereto.

3. In a toy figure, a body of resilient material having oppositely disposed inwardly directed wall portions of semi-spherical formation providing limb sockets, said inwardly directed wall portions having aligned apertures therein, limb members of resilient material having upper ends of semi-spherical shaped formation in section fittingly engaging said limb sockets respectively and having apertures disposed in registry with the apertures in said inwardly directed wall portions of the body, interfitting first and second hollow parts connecting said limb members together, said first hollow part having a shell portion of semi-spherioal shaped formation and a tubular shank connected with said shell portion and provided with circumferentially spaced fingers with outwardly extending enlargements at the ends of said fingers, said second hollow part having a shell portion of semi-spherical shaped formation and a tubular shank connected with said shell portion and which tubular shank is relatively larger in cross sectional formation than :the tubular shank of said first hollow part, said hollow pants having the semispherical shell portions thereof disposed within the semispherical upper ends of the limb members respectively with the tubular shanks thereof protruding through said apertures in the limb members and into the body through said apertures therein to dispose said tubular shanks one within the other within the body and with the enlargements at the ends of the fingers engaged against the end of the surrounding tubular shank for retaining said parts in connected relation and securing the semi-spherical ends of the limb members in said limb sockets of the body for articulation with reference there-to.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 367,578 Babb Aug. 2, 1887 1,940,608 Schavoir Dec. 19, 1933 2,966,762 Hardaway et a1. Jan. 3, 1961 2,968,104 Yonezo Ito Jan. 17, 1961 

3. IN A TOY FIGURE, A BODY OF RESILIENT MATERIAL HAVING OPPOSITELY DISPOSED INWARDLY DIRECTED WALL PORTIONS OF SEMI-SPHERICAL FORMATION PROVIDING LIMB SOCKETS, SAID INWARDLY DIRECTED WALL PORTIONS HAVING ALIGNED APERTURES THEREIN, LIMB MEMBERS OF RESILIENT MATERIAL HAVING UPPER ENDS OF SEMI-SPHERICAL SHAPED FORMATION IN SECTION FITTINGLY ENGAGING SAID LIMB SOCKETS RESPECTIVELY AND HAVING APERTURES DISPOSED IN REGISTRY WITH THE APERTURES IN SAID INWARDLY DIRECTED WALL PORTIONS OF THE BODY, INTERFITTING FIRST AND SECOND HOLLOW PARTS CONNECTING SAID LIMB MEMBERS TOGETHER, SAID FIRST HOLLOW PART HAVING A SHELL PORTION OF SEMI-SPHERICAL SHAPED FORMATION AND A TUBULAR SHANK CONNECTED WITH SAID SHELL PORTION AND PROVIDED WITH CIRCUMFERENTIALLY SPACED FINGERS WITH OUTWARDLY EXTENDING ENLARGEMENTS AT THE ENDS OF SAID FINGERS, SAID SECOND HOLLOW PART HAVING A SHELL PORTION OF SEMI-SPHERICAL SHAPED FORMATION AND A TUBULAR SHANK CONNECTED WITH SAID SHELL PORTION AND WHICH TUBULAR SHANK IS RELATIVELY LARGER IN CROSS SECTIONAL FORMATION THAN THE TUBULAR SHANK OF SAID FIRST HOLLOW PART, SAID HOLLOW PARTS HAVING THE SEMISPHERICAL SHELL PORTIONS THEREOF DISPOSED WITHIN THE SEMISPHERICAL UPPER ENDS OF THE LIMB MEMBERS RESPECTIVELY WITH THE TUBULAR SHANKS THEREOF PROTRUDING THROUGH SAID APERTURES IN THE LIMB MEMBERS AND INTO THE BODY THROUGH SAID APERTURES THEREIN TO DISPOSE SAID TUBULAR SHANKS ONE WITHIN THE OTHER WITHIN THE BODY AND WITH THE ENLARGEMENTS AT THE ENDS OF THE FINGERS ENGAGED AGAINST THE END OF THE SURROUNDING TUBULAR SHANK FOR RETAINING SAID PARTS IN CONNECTED RELATION AND SECURING THE SEMI-SPHERICAL ENDS OF THE LIMB MEMBERS IN SAID LIMB SOCKETS OF THE BODY FOR ARTICULATION WITH REFERENCE THERETO. 